Episode 2
Returning to the beginning, my first job in SL was as a pole dancer (clothed) at the once famous Voodoo Lounge run by Lias Lleandros. Lias would hire newbs, pay them and in her way get them ready for the great big world of SL. It was through her DJ school that I learned how to DJ, and my then partner re-taught me the tech side of it. I remember my very first gig, I was TERRIFIED I would screw it all up. It was at the club owned by friends, Nawlins Streeter and DJ Sephiroth. It went quite well actually and Arcadian VanAlten gave me the name I would later use for my fan group “Nox Rox”. DJ’ing was actually for me the easiest part of being newb. Whenever we would go anywhere….if there was a hole anywhere on that region, I would fall in it..without fail. Of course, I still hadn’t quite gotten the whole “you can fly” thing down so I’d be “screaming” for someone to get me out…yes it is embarrassing to admit that! However, perhaps not as embarrassing as admitting that RL I get lost crossing the street, and if I’m not careful…that follows me into virtual as well. I can’t tell you how many times Kaos (one of my best friends and business partner in the radio station) would IM me and say “where are you”….and I’d look around realize he wasn’t nearby anymore and say “Um, right where you left me?”.
One of the first opensim grids we tried out, after checking out quite a few (there are stray Noxlunas all over), was called Open Life grid. It was fun being a “pioneer” on a new grid. We didn’t have a lot of expectations and certainly didn’t expect to have a lot of content to choose from.
One of the best of my newb moments happened there though. Mort and I were building the commercial area of the region and I had a bed set out that I was working on putting more animations in. Kip popped over and sat on the bed and we were all talking for a bit. Then, for some reason I don’t even remember anymore, I picked up the bed and put it into inventory….while Kip was sitting on it. POOF! He was gone! I started panicking thinking I had taken him into inventory! He started yelling “Where the $%#@ am I??” I panicked more! Mortus didn’t know what to do…two panicking newbs on his hands and of course by then both Kip and I were panicking and swearing (oh I should point out that Kip was newb longer even than I). Well of course after he got us calmed down he saw that Kip got sent to the corner of the region and tp’ed him back. Needless to say we all spent about a half an hour after that laughing our butts off.
So, how does that relate to my passion for opensim? Opensim affords people the opportunity to become creators, to push their own boundaries. I have honestly learned MORE since leaving SL than when I was in SL. I love that. I also know though, that some people do not want to learn or “work” in virtual. Some people want all the mod con’s that they’re used to having in SL and some of them do not like “free” as in SL much free content is either stolen or “old school”.
One thing I always did with my “newbs” I would take under my wing was to take them to the Freebie Dungeon and set them loose. They would IM me hours later telling me how much fun they had and go on and on about it. Of course later when I would take them to stores and what not they would compare the free to the bought and ask me why I let them take this or that. My reply was always you only get to be newb once, and the magic of freebie shopping (that wonderment) is only possible for a relatively narrow window. That being said, I do think opensim has a higher quality freebie content than SL, and my belief is it goes to that pioneering spirit where peeps had to make what they needed/wanted since the content creators of SL weren’t there.
I encourage everyone to try their hand making something. My hope is that when they see what is involved with making something, more appreciation will be felt for those who spend the majority of their time doing such, whether the item is free or for sale.
In Digiworldz I’m able to afford rather a lot of land, and I have quite a bit set aside that I let new people set up as home base while they’re finding their way. I also let peeps have a free store at my commercial region, DarkMoon Bay. Here they are able to learn building and how to sell or give away, with free rent people are free to decide if they need to make money to cover tier or save up to get their own region or just give their creations away. With all the grids I’ve checked out or tried to settle down in, Digiworldz is the one have felt the most at home at, and the one that has allowed me to really set my creativity free.
For instance, the photo below is a pic of regular size me and me in my Wee Folk avatars I make! (hot air balloon by TR Lifter)
Returning to the beginning, my first job in SL was as a pole dancer (clothed) at the once famous Voodoo Lounge run by Lias Lleandros. Lias would hire newbs, pay them and in her way get them ready for the great big world of SL. It was through her DJ school that I learned how to DJ, and my then partner re-taught me the tech side of it. I remember my very first gig, I was TERRIFIED I would screw it all up. It was at the club owned by friends, Nawlins Streeter and DJ Sephiroth. It went quite well actually and Arcadian VanAlten gave me the name I would later use for my fan group “Nox Rox”. DJ’ing was actually for me the easiest part of being newb. Whenever we would go anywhere….if there was a hole anywhere on that region, I would fall in it..without fail. Of course, I still hadn’t quite gotten the whole “you can fly” thing down so I’d be “screaming” for someone to get me out…yes it is embarrassing to admit that! However, perhaps not as embarrassing as admitting that RL I get lost crossing the street, and if I’m not careful…that follows me into virtual as well. I can’t tell you how many times Kaos (one of my best friends and business partner in the radio station) would IM me and say “where are you”….and I’d look around realize he wasn’t nearby anymore and say “Um, right where you left me?”.
One of the first opensim grids we tried out, after checking out quite a few (there are stray Noxlunas all over), was called Open Life grid. It was fun being a “pioneer” on a new grid. We didn’t have a lot of expectations and certainly didn’t expect to have a lot of content to choose from.
One of the best of my newb moments happened there though. Mort and I were building the commercial area of the region and I had a bed set out that I was working on putting more animations in. Kip popped over and sat on the bed and we were all talking for a bit. Then, for some reason I don’t even remember anymore, I picked up the bed and put it into inventory….while Kip was sitting on it. POOF! He was gone! I started panicking thinking I had taken him into inventory! He started yelling “Where the $%#@ am I??” I panicked more! Mortus didn’t know what to do…two panicking newbs on his hands and of course by then both Kip and I were panicking and swearing (oh I should point out that Kip was newb longer even than I). Well of course after he got us calmed down he saw that Kip got sent to the corner of the region and tp’ed him back. Needless to say we all spent about a half an hour after that laughing our butts off.
So, how does that relate to my passion for opensim? Opensim affords people the opportunity to become creators, to push their own boundaries. I have honestly learned MORE since leaving SL than when I was in SL. I love that. I also know though, that some people do not want to learn or “work” in virtual. Some people want all the mod con’s that they’re used to having in SL and some of them do not like “free” as in SL much free content is either stolen or “old school”.
One thing I always did with my “newbs” I would take under my wing was to take them to the Freebie Dungeon and set them loose. They would IM me hours later telling me how much fun they had and go on and on about it. Of course later when I would take them to stores and what not they would compare the free to the bought and ask me why I let them take this or that. My reply was always you only get to be newb once, and the magic of freebie shopping (that wonderment) is only possible for a relatively narrow window. That being said, I do think opensim has a higher quality freebie content than SL, and my belief is it goes to that pioneering spirit where peeps had to make what they needed/wanted since the content creators of SL weren’t there.
I encourage everyone to try their hand making something. My hope is that when they see what is involved with making something, more appreciation will be felt for those who spend the majority of their time doing such, whether the item is free or for sale.
In Digiworldz I’m able to afford rather a lot of land, and I have quite a bit set aside that I let new people set up as home base while they’re finding their way. I also let peeps have a free store at my commercial region, DarkMoon Bay. Here they are able to learn building and how to sell or give away, with free rent people are free to decide if they need to make money to cover tier or save up to get their own region or just give their creations away. With all the grids I’ve checked out or tried to settle down in, Digiworldz is the one have felt the most at home at, and the one that has allowed me to really set my creativity free.
For instance, the photo below is a pic of regular size me and me in my Wee Folk avatars I make! (hot air balloon by TR Lifter)
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